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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. mark — a grade
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. bulb — for light
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. sharp — clever
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. craft — boats
  12. stem — to come from
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. mark — a trace
  16. cue — for pool
  17. branch — a division
  18. bulb — for light
  19. craft — a skill
  20. cue — a hint
  21. cue — a signal
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. lie — to recline

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com